Posts Tagged ‘Germany’

The Zero Carbon Australia Buildings Plan research team is currently assessing the total solar potential of rooftops in Australia. Similar studies have been completed around the world. Germany’s SUN-AREA project estimates that solar photovoltaic (PV – solar panels) power could meet the entire energy needs of residential homes throughout the country. It is sponsored by the University of Osnabrück and the TOPSCAN topographical information company.

Project director and geomatics engineer Professor Martina Klärle, will join us via Skype video conference to present their findings. Detlef Gerdts, environmental manager for the city of Osnabrück will also be presenting the experiences with the results.

Time: 6:30- 8pm Monday 4 April 2011

Fritz Loewe Theatre (entry via level 2)McCoy BuildingUniversity of MelbourneCnr Elgin & Swanston Streets, CarltonThank you to the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute, our Zero Carbon Australia project partners for joinig us in bringing you this event.

When travelling through Germany by train, they can be seen everywhere in the vicinity of large cities: ‘Schrebergärten’, groups of small fenced allotment gardens, all in perfect alignment to each other. The first allotment gardens in Germany, the ‘Schrebergärten’ originated in Leipzig. They were established as school gardens by Dr. Karl Gsell, who named them after his physician father in law, however it was Ernst Innocent Hauschild, a school principal, whose interest led to the founding of the first Schrebergarten Association in 1864.

These small recreational islands were intended to provide better nutrition, contact with nature and fresh air – a real benefit for the people, especially the city children of the industrial era. Garden allotments could alleviate the longing for life in the country and the freedom of working, relaxing and playing outdoors. And for people living in cities they played an important role in the growing of food supplies during times of crisis, war and post-war famine.